Frequency control system



Patented Jan. 26, 1954 vFREQUENCY CONTROL SYSTEM Y John l5. Atwood, l'Riverhead, N. Y., assigner to -B'adlo Corporation of America, a corporation :ofi-Delaware Application October 6, 1949,S'er'iallNo. 119,971

(Cl. VZ50- 36) v[2 Claims. l

This invention :relates 'to -anautoin'atic frequency control (AFC) system-andmore'partieularly 'to `an AAFC system'for receiversused in radio frequency vcarrier shift signaling.

'One particular application cfa-control system in accordance with gthis 'invention is 'to' 'receivers for 'radio Afrequency 'carrier Y'shift "'(R-FCS) radiophoto orfacsimile-signals and vit willlbe described in connection therewith.V However, itis to be vunderstood that thisinventi'on'is notlimited to radiophoto receivers, but is `usefulalso Vfor fre- Aquency-*shifttelegraphy receivers, inl `which the transmitted 'carrier-is shifted between two frequency values, one representing mark and the otherl space.

.A receiver for V"RFCS radiophc't'o signaling should heterodyne 'the received signal ydown lto an 'audio tone 'orfrequency 'which can be'utilized by the central ofce recording equipment; -In a system inc'ommonu'se'at the presenttimejthe frequency corresponding vt'cfblackin the picture is'2300 cycles "andthe frequency corresponding Vto 'white is'1500cyc`le's. Thereshould not'be more than a few 'cycles' drift in the Y'receiver output frequency, Vfrom these preassignedvalues (if the shades corresponding thereto are `,present in 'the picture), 'during the time V'requiredto record a picture, since if there is, therewill 'be a noticeable change in the'ipicture shading. Also, there should not be lmore than" a few cycles 'drift from such `preassignedvaluesduring the course of 'one scanning line, r else "the picture shading will change 'from top to bottom. .In aother words,A the toneV frequency output o'f the'receiver mustbe held very close tothe 'assigned `or"predetermined frequency.

If theV transmitter operates on acenter frequency yof .fifteen megacycles, 'for example,"the SGO-.cycle shift of the carrier '(from"b1ack`fre quency .to VWhite frequency@ iis only va small percentage .of such-center frequency, and 'the frequency .drift is' even'fsmaller. "There is "no known. 'AFC system, operatingon intermediate frequency or higher'frequency, which would respond to such small (percentagewise) drifts.

Accordingly, anobiect 4ofthisfinvention is to devise an'Al'lC systemora RFCS radiophcto receiver, "by the operation of v'which y'drifts "in the audioto'ne output "frequency ofisuch receiver, fromr apredeterminedor vassigned reference'v'alue,

' are Substantially eliminated.

Another :object is'to lprovide an AFC system for la RFCS receiver' which operatc's'very ``effectively.

in radiophoto signalling, a fblackmreference frequency can be produced. once eachfdrum`- frev- `r2 velution at the transmitter 'by'covering thegripper bar (which holds ythe picture bein-g" transmitted iii-place on the transmitting drum) witli--alblaclr material. It has been proposedthat'ths black frequencyl be maintained constant atv the receiver output for the duration ofthe picture-since -if it is lso maintained, all the otherparts of the 'lator, thisfrequency control being effecte'dinlsuch a manner that, irrespective of rfrequency Jvdrifts inthe transmitter, in the high Afrequencyoscillator at the receiveiyor in'other parts-ofjthe'completesignalling system, the black frequency at the receiverv output will be'automaticallly maintained very closeto the predetermined audio frequen'cy value.

The angular velocity ofthe drum at -thetran'smitter is `rather 10W, since the drum rotates "at a :comparativelyslcwrate, such as S10-R. P. for example. Therefore, there 4isasubstantial time 'interval between #successive transmissions 'to thereceiver y'of 'the 'black lreference frequency. It has been found that "it `is not feasible :to use a reactance-tube type of frequency `control arrangement for `ra'diophoto signalling, lsince A'it is almost impossible, 'as 'a "practical matter, to Ydevise 'a reactance *tube*l frequency `control circuit having atime constant vsuiciently long to maintain the' frequency of the `'controlled oscillator at ythe .proper Vvalue "during 'the time "interval between successive Vtransmissions vof black -frequency; therefore, even thoughthistyp'e of frequency control Vcircuit is `rather Ydesirablefrom .the standpoints Vofliaving no 'movingparts and .having a .high sensitivity of controlgitcannot be used for -RFCS -radiophoto lreceiver control.

f Therefore, another object of thisinvention is .to devise a novel tuning-motor-type ,-AFC arrange `ment for receivers.

' Theforegoing and vother objects of the inventionwill be best'understood fromthe following description of4 an exemplication thereof, '.reference 'being had tothe accompanying .drawings, wherein:

Fig. 'l 'is Ta somewhat simplified block diagram `of Va diversity receiver i forl YRFCS .radiophoto .asig- 'n'alling, .in whichk the frequency :control :system of the present invention :may VSbe' used; and

F1g. 2 is a circuit diagram of the frequency control system of the present invention.

The objects of this invention are accomplished, briefly, in the following manner: The audio tone output of the receiver is passed through a tuned circuit designed to provide more or less linear variations in output voltage with variations in input frequency at and around the predetermined or assigned black frequency. rlhe output of the tuned circuit is fed to two diodes having different cathode biases, the voltage across the diode cathode resistors being separately amplified and utilized to control, 'for energization or deenergization, two separate relays the contacts of which are interconnected and arranged to control the supply of alternating current energy from a source to a motor which drives a tuning capacitor in the controlled oscillator, the contacts being arranged to supply energy in either of two opposite directions to such motor. When the black frequency is less than its desired predetermined value, neither diode conducts and the relays are both energized to cause the motor to increase the receiver audio output frequency. When the black frequency s at its predetermined value, only one diode conducts and one relay is deenergized to stop the motor, while when the black frequency is greater than its desired value, both diodes conduct to deenergize both relays to cause the motor to decrease the receiver audio output frequency.

Now referring to Fig. 1, there is shown, in greatly simplified form, a diversity receiving system for RFCS radiophoto signals, somewhat in accordance with my copending application, Serial No. 118,613, led September 29, 1949, which ripened on January 6, 1953, into Patent No. 2,624,834. An antenna I4 receives the transmitted RFCS radiophoto signal and supplies it to a radio frequency (R. F.) amplifier and converter I5 of the heterodyne type which is supplied with radio frequency heterodyning energy from a radio frequency oscillator I6, the converter operating to beat down the input energy (which may be centered at megacycles, as indicated) to a first I. F. centered at 450 kilocycles. If diversity reception is used, in accordance with my aforesaid copending application, the transmitted signal is also received by a separate spaced antenna corresponding to antenna I4 and is supplied to a separate R. F. amplifier and converter similar to that denoted by I5 and which is also supplied with heterodyning energy from the common R. F. oscillator I6. The frequency of oscillator I6 may be varied, as indicated in the drawing. In the drawing, FS represents the frequency deviation of the signal, the amount of which depends upon picture intelligence.

The first I. F. output of unit I5 is supplied to an I. F. amplifier and converter Il of the heterodyne type which is supplied with I. F. heterodyning energy from an I. F. oscillator unit I8, the converter operating to beat down the I. F. input energy to a second I. F. centered at 50 kilocycles. The I. F. oscillator unit I8 is controlled in frequency by means of an AFC circuit as shown in Fig. 2, to be described in detail hereinafter; the reference numeral I8, therefore, is used to denote the entire oscillator and AFC circuit of Fig. 2. The common I. F. oscillator unit Iii may also supply heterodyning energy to a corresponding intermediate frequency amplierand converter I1 in the other signal channel of a twoset diversity receiving system, as disclosed in my copending application above referred to.

The output of I1 (and also of I1' of the diversity system) is supplied, through gate circuits controlled by gate control units (not shown in Fig. 1, but which may be as disclosed in my aforesaid application), the purpose of which is to select and apply to a common output circuit that signal version which is the better of the two versions received in diversity, to a nal converter I9 in such common output circuit. Con-- verter I9 is of the heterodyne type and is supplied With heterodyning energy from an oscillator 20, converter I9 operating to beat down they input energy applied thereto to a center frequency of 1900 cycles, so that the output of such converter is audio tone or audio frequency which varies from 1500 to 2300 cycles in accordancey with picture values. The 2300-cycle frequency is the black frequency, and is the reference frequency, produced once each drum revolution at the transmitter, which must be maintained substantially constant.

A portion of the heterodyned audio output of the receiver, in which the black reference frequency appears at least once during each drum revolution (it may appear more often than this if the picture being transmitted contains a black area), is taken off as indicated in Fig. l and applied to the input terminal X of unit I3.

Now referring to Fig. 2, the heterodyned audio output of the Fig. 1 receiver is applied to input terminal X and, when selector switch 2| is on contact A as shown, to the control grid 22 of amplier tube I, for amplification therein. Tube I is connected substantially conventionally, having the usual cathode resistor (which is unbypassed in this instance), grid leak resistor, etc. The amplified audio frequency energy is supplied from the anode of tube I by a coupling condenser 23 to the control grid of an amplifying and limiting stage including tube 2. The two cathodes of this double triode tube are tied together and connected to ground by a common cathode resistor 24. The grid 25 of the second triode is also grounded. The anodes of both triodes are connected to a source of direct plate potential, while the anode of the second triode is coupled for alternating currents by a condenser 26 and the potentiometric resistor 21 to the control grid of a following amplifier stage including tube 3. The amplifying limiter including tube 2 is substantially as disclosed in Crosby Patent 2,276,565, dated March 17, 1942, and operates as described therein to provide full wave limiting of voltages applied thereto. The audio output of the receiver is amplified by tube I to provide a suitable amplitude for the proper operation of limiter 2.

The limited audio frequency energy is amplified in tube 3 and is applied to a parallel resonant or tuned circuit 28 in the output thereof. Circuit 28 is preferably a parallel LC circuit, as indicated, and is tuned to, or resonant at, a frequency slightly higher than 2300 cycles, so that the desired reference or black frequency is located on one .side of the peak of its input frequency-output voltage characteristic, for reasons that will hereinafter appear. Since circuit 28 is a tuned circuit, the output voltage across such circuit will vary with the frequency of the signal input applied thereto, and said circuit is designed to have a substantially linear variation of output vol-tage withinput frequency over the normal operating range, with a slope of about one output Yvolt per input cycle.

The output .of the tuned circuit 28, or the voltthereof or ground, in order to supplyvaipositive 'bias (relative toiground) tothe cathodes ofthe twodiodes. Movable tap 34 is-connectedthrough resistor 35 to v'one diode cathode "H in J'tube While'said tap-isconnected through resistor to the I'otherdiocle cathode-Linftube. `The `two jdiodes of tube =4 have differing positive lbiases Von their ycathodesv "(resistor -35 having a lower "value-of 'resistance than -resistor '38) the cathode Ll-lVhaving afhigherpositive'bias than cathode L.

Cathode `Hisconnected'tofground by a cathode load resistort'l While cathode Lis connected to groundby anequalfload resistor 38; 'resistor 35 '-ismadevariable,as shown, to allow crfmanu- 4acturirratolerances in resistors Sffan'd 38.

The voltage across fdiode cathode *resistor f3? vi's-appliedto controlfgrid 3s of amplifier tube While Athe voltage across resistor d3 is lapplied tocontrol grid'iit'of-arnplifier tube 5. ATubesl 5 and t f are connected substantially conventionally vas separate ainpliners, each having the 'usual cathode `resistance `'and condenser unit :and grid leak resistance, etc.

The black material'whichcovers the gripper '-bar of the Ydrum at thev transmitter yis of 'such Ashade that it=produces a y"frequency thereat which is at one extreme -`end o the frequency 'shift li'arngneoi the radio frequency carrier, there being noiareas blacker ythan this in 'any picture to be transmitted. As a result, once each revolution of the Idrurn there Vis transmitted, -for a Afinite time interval, the frequency corresponding 4lto iblack, kwhich is lintended -to be maintained at '-230Gcycl'es in ftheroutput ofthe receiver. 4rinite ime in ervalislongcoinpared to the .time

This

rather -largelnumber of cycles of such vlavefap- :pear .across tuned circuitt during.'such'interval. .i .Alternating voltage of r.substantially sinusoidal Waveform appears .fac-ross :circuit .23 .during '.the finite time linterval `of reception of :the :black reference'irequoncy, and, 'if fone or both of .the diodes ofttube 'li'.conducts during this finite time V.interval :to produce.:haliewaver rectification of the sinusoidal Wave applied thereto, D. C. pulses will iappearacross .that one yor I.both of the vresistors .5l Vand 38 .incircuit .with the corresponding conducting diode. .These D. fC. pulses i across '..resisters 3l and 33 are ampliiiecl substantially `Without distortion by the correspondingamplier tube 'f6 or {ifandappear in the anode circuit of such tube.

y .The l'm'.ases .onzdiode .catbcdes .E and iL are A auch @that the l,circuit .Asc liar described operates 'in fthe-manner 'to 'benoxv .-explained. :If .the audio :input frequency from fthe .receiver to the Fig. vr2 circuit has .-alrnaximurn value (represented by theblaci -or reicrencefrequency) -cf less :than .2300 cycles-the output of tunedacircuit.IZiisless 'than that required tcvovcrconie the positive Ycath- 'ode bias on either/diode .of tubeat, so that under .these conditions there are no :signal vpeaks ,or

D. C. pulses appearing across either 'oi the re Ysisters `3.7 or. 3;8 orVv intthe Aanode circuits of :either 'of tubes' 5 :ori t.

'aWhenthe .maximum input .frequency :to .circuit 28ers 23.00 :cyclesfthe :.pealrroutput Aofrsuch:circuit zovercomes the positive .bias :on diode icathozde L.

Sinoeun'ovv We are furt'her upvon the: output :voltage-input frequency 1"chavanteristie of circuit "2'8 'and the loutput; A'of such "circuit fis' greater; under these conditions D. C. lpulses appear across the `Aresistor -38 and'in--the Vanodefcircuit of tube 5. 'Under -theseconditions the Ioutput of circuit 28 isnotsuiiicient to jovercome`l the positive bias on cathode H (it vvillfbe'remembered that cath- `ode 'H 'has a higher bias than cathode `L), so nothingappearsacross'cathode resistor J31 or in the anode'circuit 'of tube v'6.

vFinally, when theirnaximum input yfrequency `to circuit 2'8 Ais'slightly'higher than 2300 cycles, suchas approximately 2302 cycles, vve 'are stili urtheriup onithe outputvoltage-input frequency characteristic of circuit 28 "and the output or such circuit is evengreater (it will be recalled that the circuit"28is :tunedv to afrequen'cy higher .than 230.0 cycles, so .that until the peak of its response curve is reachedythe voltage output of .such circuit increaseswithA increasinginput frequency). Underth'ese rconditions the output ci .circuit 28 issuicient to overcome the 'positive biases on both cathodes'H .and L, lso that novv D. .C..pulses appear across bothV4 resistors Si and .tt .and inthe anode circuits vof both tubes Ei .and 5.

.The anode .of `tube '6 .is connected through a .condenser .E I .and afull-Wavetypecharging diode .8,to capacitor '.42 ywhich is shunted by resistorli. :Signal peaks or pulses appearing across cathode `.resistor `el.areamplirled by'tube't and are utilized to charge .capacitorfitthrough diode negatively `with .respect toground, to which the lower plat-e y.of saidcapacitor is connected. Resistor `across capacitor i2 .provides the desired 'timeconstant Vfor thedischargep'f said capacitor.

imilarly, .the anode of tube '5 'is connected rthrouglfi .a condenser' 44 and Va'full-wav@type .chargingidiode 'i to capacitor A5 Whichis sl'iunted .by resistor '4.6. ySignalpe'alis or pulses appearing .across-cathode `resistor 38 are aniplied by tube .Ezand are utilized to chargecapacitor i5 vthrough ,diode .l .negatively with respect to ground, to which the lower plate Vof said capacitor is connected. .Resistor 46 across capacitor "4E-provides :the desired time constant or'ilie discharge oi said.. capacitor.

IThe lupperplate 'of capacitor 42 is connected .-to .the Vcontrol grid t1 of amplifying tube it in theanode .circuit of -vvhichis the winding et of v.a.relaytf.having.tvvo armatures '5G andi each .cooperating .with .a /front 'contact and ra back contact, the .armatures 'each 'resting on their back` .contacts in the "illustrated deenei-gized position ofthey relay. "The armatures 5t and Eri.v are each .connected to...a separate terminal of la vreversing'motor '52 of `the 'alternating Acurrent type, thismotor having. also '.tWo other terminals .to Iwhich are -connectedlleads from opposite sides .ci .an alternatingzcurrent source yindicated 'at ,there Ibeing a,. phas`ingfcap'acitor 5t :in series in Vone oi ythe.last-men'ticned leads. Motor t2 is -ofvthe typewhichiscapable of having direction .of .rotation..r.eversed by interchanging `the :ccnnectionsirom `Athe .source .5S to .the'niotor .terminals .and 15E, .to .vihichare connected, respectively, thearmatures n5I) .and rel The4v upper plate of capacitor` 115 .is-connected to the control :grid dipf-amplifying tube .t .in the :anode circuit vof .which is thesvvinding .of a

cooperatingv with la tront'fcontact .and a .back i ccntactfthe. armatures :each resting. .ontheirback contactsfintth'e illustrated deenergized ,position .of

the relay. The front contacts for armatures50 and 60 are connectedqtogether, the back-contacts for armatures 50 and 6I are connected together, the front contacts for armatures 5I and GI are connected together, and the back conta-cts for armatures 5I and 60 are connected together. Finally, the armatures 60 and 6I are connected to opposite sides of source 53.

Motor 52 drives, in either of two opposite directions, a condenser 62 in the tank circuit 53 of an oscillator including tube II which is connected substantially conventionally to produce oscillations in the I. F. range, rotary movement of condenser 52 by motor 52 producing capacitance variations thereof and consequent variations in the output frequency of the I. F. oscillator II which is the common I. F. oscillator feeding into units Il and I'I of Fig. 1.

Assume, now, that the maximum input frequency to circuit 28 is slightly higher than 2800 cycles, for example approximately 2302 cycles. Under these conditions, signal peaks appear across both resistors 3l and 38, charging both capacitors 42 and 45 negatively with respect to ground. The negative voltages on these capacitors 42 and 45 are applied to the respective grids 4l and 5'! of tubes I0 and 9, cutting off such tubes and deenergizing relays 42 and 59 so that they are in the position illustrated. Circuits may now be traced to motor 52 as follows: lower lead of source to motor terminal 55 via armature 60, back contact for 50, back conta-ct for armature 5I, and armature 5i; upper lead of source to motor terminal 55 via armature 6I, back contact for 6I, back contact for armature 5t, and armature 50. This causes the motor 52 to drive condenser 62 in one direction, the connections being so arranged that this direction is such as to correct (lower) the maximum audio input frequency to circuit 28, or at terminal X; from a consideration of Fig. l, it may be seen that variations in frequency of the common heterodyning I. F. oscillator unit i3 wiil cause corresponding frequency variations in the audio tone output of the receiver, which is applied to terminal X.

When the maximum input frequency to circuit 28, or at terminal X, has returned to 2300 cycles, no signal peaks appear across resistor 3l, so that capacitor 42 is no longer charged negatively through diode 8. |The negative charge on 42 gradually leaks off through shunt resistor 43, removing the negative bias on tube i0. Tube I then conducts, energizing relay 49 to stop motor 52 by breaking the motor energizing circuit at the back contacts for armatures 50 and 5 I.

If, now, the maximum input frequency to cir cuit 28, or at terminal X, drifts to a value slightly below 2300 cycles, such as about 2298 cycles for example, no signal peaks appear across either resistor 31 or 38 and capacitor 45 no longer is charged negatively through diode l'. The negative charge on 45 gradually leaks on? through shunt resistor 46, removing the negative bias on tube 9. Tube 9 then conducts, energizing relay 59. A circuit for energizing motor 52 is now set up as follows: lower lead of source to motor terminal 55 via armature 60, front contact for 50, front contact for armature 50, and armature 50; upper lead of source to motor terminal 55 via armature EI, front contact for 6I, frontcontact for armature I, and armature 5l. This causes the motor to drive condenser 52 in the reverse direction, this direction being such as to correct (raise) the maximum audio input frequency to circuit 28, or at terminal X.

- When the maximum input frequency to circuit 28, or at terminal X, has returned to 2300 cycles, signal peaks again appear across resistor 38, charging capacitor 45 negatively through diode '7, thereby cutting off tube 9 to deenergize relay 55 and stop motor 52 by breaking the motor energizing circuit at the front contacts for armatures 60 and 6I.

For diversity reception, as schematically illustrated in Fig. l, the oscillator including tube II is the common I. F. oscillator for converters Il and I1 of the two diversity channels. The output of oscillator tube II is therefore applied through coupling condenser 54 to the control grids 65 and 66 of two corresponding tubes I2 and I3 each constituting a cathode follower stage which is connected in a more or less conventional manner. Output across the cathode resistor B1 of tube I 2A is applied through a condenser 68 to the inner conductor of a coaxial line 69 which is coupled to the I. F. amplifier and converter unit i'i of the Fig. 1 receiver. Output across the cathode resistor 10 of tube I3 is applied through a condenser II to the inner conductor of a coaxial line l2 which is coupled to the I. F. amplier and converter unit I'I' of the Fig. 1 receiver. The oscillator including tube I I therefore supplies heterodyning I. F. energy to the two converters II and Il of Fig. 1. The cathode follower stage tubes E2 and I3 reduce the output impedance of oscillator tube II to match the mpedances of the coaxial lines 69 and 12, and also serve to prevent any coupling between units I'I and I'I of the receiver through the common oscillator.

How close to the predetermined desired value the frequency is held, is determined by the difference in the biases on the diode cathodes H and L and by the slope of the characteristic of tuned circuit 28. Contact B of selector switch 2I is connected to a stable 2300cycle oscillator, so that, when said switch is on such contact, the input of the Fig. 2 circuit is supplied with the desired frequency of 2300 cycles. When switch 2I is operated to be on contact B, thus supplying a Z300-cycle input, the amplitude of the voltage across tuned circuit 28 may be adjusted so that the motor 52 will stop at this frequency. This adjustment may be made by adjustment of the po tentiometer 21 in the grid circuit of tube 3. Limiter 2 permits the system to function properly under various conditions of amplitude of receiver output.

The system of this invention is not limited in application to carrier shift radiophoto signaling, but will also operate on frequency shift telegraphy.

The circuit is also not limited to using a tuned circuit 28 to provide the necessary variation of output voltage with input frequency. In fact, using a tuned circuit is disadvantageous if the audio input frequency happens to drift to an extent such that it is considerably higher than the frequency to which the circuit is tuned. If this should happen, the circuit will act to change the frequency to higher and higher values, since in this case (the characteristic of the tuned circuit being somewhat of inverted U-shape) the amplitude of the output voltage across the tuned circuit would again be insufficient to overcome the bias on either diode cathode, a situation ex- 'actlylike that existingwhen the input frequency is less than 2300 cycles. This eifect can be easily overcome by using, instead of tuned circuit 28, several amplifier stages coupled together, each stage having an untuned inductance in its plate 23e-casca 9i circuit'.A and .itsplatefbeing coupled to5` thef-gridof thefnex-t stage: by- `small capacitor, forexample; v

What I/claimLto b'eLmy invention is;

1. yA frequency control-system forvl Van 1 oscillator, comprisingl a singlel Atuned circuit? responsive to analternating inputfi WaveVV for producing l there#V from 2 an alternatingl voltageA the amplitude of which varies; with. the" frequency? of said wave means coupledto said? tuned circuit and-responsive to yfrequencydependent` produced Y alternati ing" voltages o'fl p'eak amplitude" above-' a,`- first? thresholdyalue': for deriving th'erefro'ml a iirst potental,-means coupledlto said .tunedlcircuit andv responsive! tov frequencyLdepend'en'ti p1fo"duced`^fal" ternatingl voltagesv of peakiamplitudef above a second-1thresholdvalue-for de'rivingilthe'ref'r'oirl a second potential, amotorffor driving a-fieduencydetermining elementi-in the oscillator` to be Ycontrolled and-means'ccntrolled by s'aidl'rst 'eindr4 second potentialsto 1 complete' an energizing circuit of one relative' polarit'yffor' said' motor'y in response to 'thegpres'ence o'f both such potentials, to completean energizing circuitf of the opposite relativeipolarityk for 'saidlmot'or in` response' to' the absence of both' suchpotentials; andi to disconnect-the -motor rfrom` its-sour`ce eff energyV in respense-Lto the presence of oneI such potential and the'absenc'e'of` the other such potential lator;V `comprisingrneansfresponsive to an alternati-nginput wave for" producingV therefrom an altrnatingvoltag'ethe amplitudeof which varies vvitli4 vfthe frequency of saidfl Wave;- -a'- rectifier couple vtoireceive 'the lprodueedalternating volt`rv age and-f'biased to'- rectifyl 'said f'volt'age, thereby to produce a rst potential, o'nl'y'when4 the peak ampliti'lde' of' said'' produced`vv voltage ist greater than-a first'thre'sliolfdfvalue,` means coupledto said rst-named" m'eanslandlresponsive' to fre quency'idependent Yproduced4` alternating voltages U of peakfamplitude apoyen-*second threshold value for` deriving therefrom a"second"potential,v armo".- tor fior "driving "a frequency# determining' element in the os'cillatorf-to lbef' controlled, andjm'eansifcofril# trolled by said first andsecoridfpotentialsitoiconi-l pletean'energizing-circuit of one relative polarity for said motorin response to the presence of both" such'potntials; to' complete'an' energizing circuit of theoppositel-rel-ativefplarity for said motoninresponse to theabsence of both suchpotentialsfand to disconnectthe-motorffromfits source-:offenergy in response to the pres ence-`fof one such potential and the absence of the other such potential.

Bnireduency control system for any-oscillator, comprising means responsive to analterhating@` input Wave l for producing therefrom an alternating voltage the amplitude of which varies with the frequency of said Wave, means coupled to said iirst-named means and responsive to frequency-dependent produced alternating voltages of peak amplitude above a rst threshold value for deriving therefrom a iirst potential, a rectifier coupled to receive the produced alternating voltage andr biased to rectify said voltage, thereby to produce a second potential, only when the peak amplitude of said produced Voltage is greater than a second threshold Value, a motor for driving a frequency-determining element in the oscillator to be controlled, and means controlled by said rst and second potentials to complete an energizing circuit of one relative polarity for said motor in response to the presence of both such potentials, to complete an energizing circuit of the opposite relative polarity for said motor in response to the'y absence of# bothsuch potetialafj and to disconnect'Y the motorffroi'n its' source -of-- energy inrespons'e` to the presence-'of one-such potentialNr and the absence ofY the other such= potential.

4. A; frequency'control.system for 'anvosc'illatorii comprising a tuned circuitresponsiveto ari 'a"lt'er0 nating: input wave for producing therefrom an alternating Yvoltage'rthe amplitude vof'vvhich varies:4 With the frequencyy ofsaid Wave; alrectiercou'A pled to receive-'the produced alternating` voltage andbiased to rectify saidvoltag'ef, thereby'itofproduce a firstfpo tential, `only When the peak-'amplitude =of said producedI voltage is r'V greater"v than` af rstlthresholdfvalue;means' coupled to said tuned* circuit/andi' responsive to ireque'ncy-dependent producedr .alternating-..1voltages o peak amplitude;

above'a second threshold value'ffor-deriving theree'A fron'i a `second potentie-1,: affmotor for `driving az frequencydetermining` element* in the oscillator? to becontrolled;andf means controlled by.y saidr'stv andsecond -potenti-'alsto'I Vcompletev an ener# gizingcircuit: or one relativeV polarity' for saidy` motorin `response tofthepre'sence of` both' .suchl potentials; to complete-f an energizing circuit"I of the'- opposite relative polarity for said*- motor'A in response to the absence of*I b'othsuch 1 potential'si andtev disconnect the motor from its source of? energy. in response tothe presencefof onefsuchl potential andith'e absenceof` theotherv suche potentialf.

5. A frequency control system in accordancef With cla'ini'l 1;- Whe're'inf the'second-n'ame'd means includes a storage' element across wh-icl'iftllei iirst potential appears;` said-1r element being charged? ironitlie produciedialternating vc'tltage'fWherithel saine 4isloipeakamplitudeabove the rst threshef' old value wherein fthe amplitudel of saidfproduc'ed ing voltage' thev amplitude of which 1 variesiv with5r the frequency of' said Wave;l I means f coupled to' said "i'St-#naniedilneansl'and responsive 'toVA pro" i duced- Voltag-'esi ofpe'alzflv Ir'iplitude above al first1V thresholdy Value for 'Y derivingthere rInVa-fir's potential, means'- coupled to said'rst-namedf means and" respfonsiveto produced voltages ofi peak amplitudeA above" a second threshold value" for 'deriving' therefromasecond potential, a motor for 'driving a lfreojiency-deternfin'ing" element in the os'cillatoi` 'to be controlled', and" means coni' trolled byfsaidlrst and second y"potential'stoco'fnl plete an energizing circuit of Wone 'relative polarity for said motor in response to the presence of both such potentials, to complete an energizing circuit of the opposite relative polarity for said motor in response to the absence of both such potentials and to disconnect the motor from its source of energy in response to the presence of one such potential and the absence of the other such potential, said last-named means including a pair of relays each having an energizing Winding and a plurality of movable contacts each cooperating with a plurality of iixed contacts, the movable contacts and iixed contacts being interconnected with each other and being located between the motors source and the motor, one energizing Winding being controlled by said first potential and the other energizing winding being controlled by said second potential.

7. A frequency control system for an oscillator, comprising means responsive to an alternating input wave for producing therefrom an alternating voltage the amplitude of which varies substantially directly with the frequency of said wave, means coupled to said first-named means and responsive to frequency-dependent produced alternating voltages of peak amplitude above a first threshold value for deriving therefrom a first potential, a rectifier coupled to receive the produced alternating voltage and biased to rectify said voltage, thereby to produce a second potential, only when the peak amplitude of said produced voltage is greater than a second threshold value, a storage element, across which said second potential appears, coupled to the output of said rectifier, the second threshold value being higher than the first threshold value, a motor for driving a frequency-determining element in the oscillator to be controlled, and means controlled by said first and second potentials to complete an energizing circuit of one relative polarity for said motor in response to the presence of both such potentials, to complete an energizing circuit f the opposite relative polarity for said motor in response to the absence of both such potentials, and to disconnect the motor from its source of energy in response to the presence of the said rst potential and the absence of the said second potential.

8. A frequency control system in accordance with claim 3, wherein the second-named means includes a rectifier coupled to receive the produced alternating Voltage and biased to rectify said voltage only when the peak amplitude of same is greater than the first threshold value.

9. A frequency control system in accordance with claim 4, wherein the third-named means includes a rectifier coupled to receive the produced alternating voltage and biased to rectify said voltage only when the peak amplitude of same is greater than the second threshold value.

l0. A frequency control system for an oscillator, comprising means responsive to an alternating input Wave for producing therefrom an alternating Voltage the amplitude of which varies with the frequency of said wave, means coupled to said first-named means and responsive to produced voltages of peak amplitude above a first threshold value for derivingl therefrom a first potential, said last-named means including a rectifier coupled to receive the produced alternating voltage, said rectifier being biased to rectify said voltage only when the peak amplitude of same is greater than said first threshold value, and including also a storage element, across which said first potential appears, coupled to the output of said rectifier, means coupled to said first-'named means and responsive to produced voltages of peak amplitude above a second threshold value for deriving therefrom a second potential, a motor for driving a frequency-determining element in the oscillator to be controlled, and means controlled by said first and second potentials to complete an energizing circuit of one relative polarity for said motor in response to the presence of both such potentials, to complete an energizing circuit of the opposite relative polarity for said motor in response to the absence of both such potentials and to disconnect the motor from its source of energy in response to the presence of one such potential and the absence of the other such potential, said last-named means including a pair of relays each having an energizing Winding and a plurality of movable contacts each co-operating with a plurality of fixed contacts, the movable contacts and fixed contacts being interconnected with each other and being located between the motors source and the motor, one energizing winding being controlled by said first potential and the other energizing winding being controlled by said Second potential.

1l. A frequency control system in accordance with claim 10, wherein the third-named means includes a rectifier coupled 'to receive the produced alternating voltage, said rectifier being biased to rectify said voltage Ionly when the peak amplitude of same is greater than the second threshold value, and a storage element, across which the second potential appears, coupled to the output of said rectifier, the other energizing winding being controlled by the potential across said storage element.

12. A frequency control system in accordance with claim 11, wherein the first-named means consists of a tuned circuit t0 which the alternating input wave is applied, wherein the amplitude of the produced alternating voltage varies substantially directly with the Wave frequency, wherein the second threshold value is higher than the first threshold value, and wherein the other potential is the second potential.

JOHN B. ATWOOD.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,018,820 Usselman Oct. 29, 1935 2,297,800 Read Oct. 6, 1942 2,357,984 Travis Sept. 12, 1944 2,379,689 Crosby July 3, 1945 2,464,818 Learned Mar. 22, 1949 2,511,137 Wheeler June 13, 1950 2,545,297 Mittelmann Mar. 13, 1951 

